Have you seen the 2010 MVW Fan Contest? A grand prize of 10,000 lindens and at least ten of the couture collection from the evening gown competition? Now fans of the pageant can win, too! Click on the Fan Contests tab in the upper right hand corner of this web page to learn more!

Miss Germany, Wenadrenia Soderstrom

Wenadrenia: I want your blog readers to be able to open my book and see into my life. I am a very simple person. I love peeling away the layers wallowing in all the experiences that come to me. The biggest thrill for me is to hear someone say I made their day brighter. Finally, I enjoy catching someone off guard making them laugh so hard that they giggle for the rest of the day.

Wenadrenia: There is so much to Second Life that I could not possibly do every thing that interests me. I like participating in charity events, helping those around me. I share my art though my building and jewelry. Every texture I set or stone placed helps me bring fashion and beauty to everyone’s day. I like dressing up. I can be anything from a roaming alien to a chic modern catwalk diva. I enjoy many things. I place my building and Jewelry on top. I express myself through it and I get to be with my RL and SL husband, Jens.
Kate: Can you show the readers one of your favorite jewelry sets and describe what your inspiration was?

Wenadrenia: My most treasured jewelry collection is called the Mary Loise. I hold this close to my heart. It is not my most popular piece but it brings tears to my eyes every time I see it up on the wall. This set represents a strong woman that touched many lives including mine. This woman was a first in our family to go out into the work force in the early 40’s and achieve a professional status and in my eyes set the standard for every successful woman today. She was my grandmother. She cared for me when my own mother didn’t want me. Even though she worked full time in a man’s industry she always found time to teach me the finer things in life such as shopping and nails, knitting and tatting. I always felt as if she put me or anyone else around her who needed something ahead of herself. This set was made from a set of earrings that I still possess today. They are exactly like the earrings in the picture. This set is as great as she was. My grandmother was such a fashion smart woman but this was something in her wardrobe that didn’t really go… The stones are fire opal and yellow citrine. I used to sit and look at her, watching the colors sparkle as she talked or moved. Once in a great while I would get to play with her jewelry. I always picked this pair of earrings to wear. The fire opal reminds me of her personality. All of 5′4″, she was a spit fire working circles around at her job. The yellow citrine was so bright I used to hold them up to my eyes and look through them seeing the world in its sunshine haze.  She only wore them when she had a tough day ahead or if we where going out for that once a month dinner at a restaurant. My most vivid memories are of her power earrings. I will wear them on the final day of this pageant. Every girl needs a pair of earrings like these… winks.
Kate: It sounds like you and your grandmother were very close. She wore the earrings based on the challenges of the day rather than whether it matched her outfit?
Wenadrenia: I guess we all have the favorite item in our house or wardrobes that make us have a great feeling when worn.
Kate: Wow! Great story
Wenadrenia: Well she was a great lady. I wish I could of shared her with the world.
Kate: I’m sure you make her proud, too.
Wenadrenia: smiles… thank you I hope I do!
Kate: We are going to shift worlds to modeling.
Wenadrenia: ok
Kate: Do you have and advice for a new model? Styling, for instance… many new models have the general idea down… but seem to miss on the details.
Wenadrenia: I would first advise them to pack up one newbie outfit, skin, shoes, hair jewels and save it. Take a picture of you from the first days in modeling. Take that folder and pack it away… but don’t delete it. Then look around. There is so much fashion. They can experience it all. Don’t be afraid to take a chance. Modeling is not fast food… you can’t drive up … order a degree in modeling, slap on a great outfit and wing it on the runway. You have to take your time. Learn, watch, remember, work, and then lead. This is a fast growing industry. In the two years I have been here it has blown up. I always say take your time. It is not going to go away. Be happy with your growth and if you insist on being a DIVA pull out that folder I told you to build and put it on. That is where you started.  And remember to help others no matter if they like you or not. They will remember that you gave that helping hand once and pass it forward.
Kate: Is there anything about you we left out or you would like to say in closing?
Wenadrenia: Whether I win or lose I will be me. I am here to help anyone that needs it. I love to make a happy face. Making a difference is not that I am Miss Virtual World. Making a difference will continue long after that pageant is over.  Please remember to look at your monitors. Remember that you are a real person sitting there typing interacting and talking to others . It affects people’s real lives. I am so honored to be able to be a part of this Miss Virtual World event. I would like to thank the other ladies, Frolic and the judges for allowing me to participate. In my heart being a finalist is winning.

The Grand Finals for the Miss Virtual World will be held at the Patch Thibaud Auditorium on December 19, Saturday. See you there!

Kate Stockholm is a senior staff writer for Best of Second Life Magazine, a retired SL Mentor and a Miss Virtual World Organization executive. She was last year’s Miss Sweden and winner of Miss Congeniality.